1998 Toyota Corolla Airbags Problems

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. WHEN I LOOKED UP ANY RECALLS ON THIS YEAR OF TOYOTA, THERE WERE ALOT OF COMPLAINTS AND NO FIXES. I THINK TOYOTA SHOULD FIX THIS SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAGS, IT IS A BIG DEAL NOT FEELIG SAFE ON THE ROAD. THE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN WE WERE DRIVING. WE TRIED TO RESET IT BUT HAS NO EFFECT. THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THE 1998 TOYOTA COROLLA.THIS IS NOT A COINCIDENCE, IT IS A SAFETY HAZZARD THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACUTURER. TOYOTA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FIX THE PROBLEM, IT IS THERE FAULT. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

NHTSA ID

11360597

Incident

Aug 26, 2020

Mileage

74,000 mi

TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL MY 1998 TOYOTA COROLLA IS LISTED AS ONE OF THE CARS EFFECTED BY THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL. TODAY I NOTED A BLINKING LIGHT ON MY DASH BOARD FOR THE AIRBAG. PLEASE ADVISE.

NHTSA ID

11245824

Incident

Aug 22, 2019

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FRONT END CRASH. THE SEAT/SHOULDER BELT DID NOT LOCK AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY

NHTSA ID

10746309

Incident

Jul 6, 2015

Mileage

250,000 mi

AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED FLASHING INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO CHARGED $ 100 FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $500 TO FIX. I THEN TOOK IT TO A SELF EMPLOYED MECHANIC WHO HAD WORKED FOR TOYOTA. HE SAID IT HAD JUST BECOME DISCONNECTED UNDER THE SEAT. HE WAS ABLE TO FIX IT, IT SEEMED, FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, BUT THE PROBLEM KEEPS COMING BACK. I RECENTLY LEARNED ONLINE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. SEVERAL WHO HAVE SHELLED OUT THE MONEY TO TOYOTA TO HAVE IT "FIXED" SAY THE PROBLEM HAS NOT GONE AWAY. I AM SO ANGRY THAT TOYOTA HASN'T TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY AND NHTSA IS NOT HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10676393

Incident

Mar 17, 2008

Mileage

65,000 mi

AT THIS APPROXIMATE DATE, I BEGAN GETTING A WARNING LIGHT RE. MY AIR BAGS. MY DEALER SAID I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE FAULTY STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG ASSEMBLY COSTING ME BETWEEN $1000-1500 OR MORE TO REPLACE IT. NOW, OTHER COROLLAS ARE BEING RECALLED BUT MINE IS NOT BEING RECALLED. IT APPEARS THAT MY CAR HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM FOR AN EVEN LONGER PERIOD OF TIME THAN THOSE THAT ARE BEING RECALLED. I HAVE NOT YET BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I RECENTLY READ IN THE NEWS THAT THESE PROBLEMS BEGAN IN 1998, THE YEAR I PURCHASED MY CAR. MY CAR HAS JUST NOW TURNED 100,000 MILES AND I FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE ONGOING RECALL THAT INCLUDES OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS NOT ONLY ARBITRARY BUT DANGEROUS FOR ME FOR YOU TO EXCLUDE ME FROM THIS RECALL. I HEREBY REQUEST THAT YOU INCLUDE MY CAR IN THIS RECALL. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10662121

Incident

Jul 14, 2011

Mileage

40,000 mi

AIR BAG WARNING KEPT FLASHING THAT THE AIR BAGS NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. WE TOOK CAR TO DEALER, IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, DEALER SAID WE WOULD HAVE TO "REPAIR IT OURSELVES" IF WE COULD FIND A CONSOLE THAT WOULD REPAIR IT AND HE THOUGHT THERE WAS ONLY ONE IN THE UNITED STATES FOR APPROXIMATELY $2000. WE WROTE TO TOYOTA WHO EVENTUALLY WROTE BACK TO US STATING THAT TOYOTA WOULD NOT REPAIR THIS CAR AND HAD NO INTENTION OF RECALLING THIS CAR DUE TO THIS ISSUE AND WE WOULD HAVE TO REPAIR THIS CAR OURSELVES AT THE DEALER LOCATION. NOW WE SEE IN THE NEWS THAT TOYOTA IS RECALLING 1.3 MILLION OTHER CARS FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE SAME ISSUE--THE CONTROL OF THE AIR BAGS. DEALER TOLD US HE DID NOT KNOW HOW THIS WOULD AFFECT IF THE AIR BAGS WOULD GO OFF IN AN ACCIDENT OR NOT IN THE FUTURE OR ANY OTHER TIME. THE CONSOLE CONSTANTLY SHOWS THAT A DOOR IS OPEN AND THAT THE AIR BAG NEEDS TO BE SERVICED AND THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT EXCEPT TO HOPE IT WILL REACT PROPERLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10496213

Incident

Jul 7, 2011

Mileage

86,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN RIB, FRACTURED BONE AND WHIPLASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 167,000.

NHTSA ID

10367121

Incident

Jul 15, 2010

Mileage

167,000 mi

MY WIFE'S 1998 TOYOTA COROLLA WAS HIT HEAD ON AT 70MPH BY A FULL SIZE PASSENGER TRUCK AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. SHE HAS BEEN THE SOLE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASE. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, IN THE COURSE OF OWNERSHIP, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON PERIODICALLY. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO TWO DIFFERENT AUTHORIZED TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS AND BOTH REPORTED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. THIS, IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THE LIGHT CONTINUED TO FLASH INTERMITTENTLY. WE HAVE RETAINED THE DIAGNOSTIC RECEIPTS FROM THE DEALERSHIPS. I CONTACTED TOYOTA MOTORS, AND THEY HAVE CREATED A CASE NUMBER. TOYOTA MOTORS REQUESTED CRASH PHOTOGRAPHS TO BE E-MAILED TO THEM, WHICH I HAVE DONE. NO FURTHER CONTACT HAS BEEN RECEIVED FROM TOYOTA MOTORS. THE VEHICLE IS BEING HELD AT OUR INSURERS SALVAGE YARD FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10352337

Incident

Aug 18, 2010

Mileage

196,000 mi

I OWN A 1998 TOYOTA COROLLA. IN AUGUST 2004, THE AIRBAG WENT DEFECTIVE. AN AUTHORIZED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN NJ ORDERED A REPLACEMENT CENTRAL AIRBAG ASSEMBLY AND THE AIRBAG WAS REPLACED ON SEP 1, 2004. *AK HOWEVER AFTER A FEW MONTHS, THE SAME AIRBAG PROBLEM REOCCURED AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM, THE DEALERSHIP FINALLY CONCLUDED THAT THE ENTIRE AIRBAG CIRCUITRY WAS DEFECTIVE. SINCE THEY QUOTED ME AN EXHORBITANT PRICE, I TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER AUTHORIZED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THIS SECOND DEALERSHIP AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS, IDENTIFIED THAT THE SAME CENTRAL AIRBAG ASSEMBLY THAT WAS REPLACED IN SEP 1, 2004 WAS DEFECTIVE. THEY ORDERED A SECOND REPLACEMENT AND FITTED MY CAR WITH THE NEW PART. THIS HAPPENED IN NOV 2006. HOWEVER 2 MONTHS AFTER THE AIRBAG REPLACEMENT,IN FEB 2007 THE SAME AIRBAG PROBLEM REOCCURED FOR A 3RD TIME. I CONTACTED TOYOTA MOTOR SALES USA, INC AT 1901 SOUTH WESTERN AVENUE - WC 10, TORRANCE, CA 90501 TO EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. I SENT THEM ALL THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION. HOWEVER INSPITE OF EXPLAINING THE THREAT TO MY LIFE CAUSED BY THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG, TOYOTA HAS NOT COME FORWARD TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. I HAVE SPENT CLOSE TO $1500 ON THE PROBLEM ALREADY OVER THE COURSE OF 3 YEARS. EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS A 1998 MAKE, THE AIRBAGS WERE REPLACED IN SEP 2004 AND NOV 2006 AND ARE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I REQUEST YOU TO INSTRUCT TOYOTA TO REPAIR THE AIRBAG AT NO EXTRA COST TO ME. TOYOTA'S REFERENCE NUMBER FOR MY CASE IS 200706250076.

NHTSA ID

10196166

Incident

Aug 20, 2004

Mileage

42,000 mi

ON 11/7/2006 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE MY VEHICLE 98 TOYOTA COROLLA REAR ENDED A CEMENT TRUCK. THE SPEED AT WHICH MY CAR WAS TRAVELING WAS 25-35 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, MY SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK AND BECAUSE OF THIS MY CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. I VISITED THE URGENT CARE THE SAME DAY AND AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT I SUFFERED STRAINED LIGAMENTS AND MUSCLES IN MY NECK AND BACK AND A BRUISE AND SCRAPE ON MY CHEST. I AM STILL SUFFERING. *NM

NHTSA ID

10173788

Incident

Nov 7, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT INCIDENT, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON AND OFF. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE CONNECTIONS WERE LOOSE. THE CONNECTIONS WERE TIGHTENED AND THE CODE WAS RESET. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE AIR BAG WOULD PROBABLY NOT DEPLOY IF THE LIGHT WAS FLASHING. UPDATED 11/21/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10168234

Incident

Sep 13, 2006

Mileage

61,200 mi

1998 TOYOTA COROLLA AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT BLINKED CONTINUOUSLY AFTER REPAIRED. UPON INSPECTION MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE AIRBAG HARNESS WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *KB *JB *NM

NHTSA ID

10169062

Incident

Sep 1, 2006

THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON OUR 1998 TOYOTA COROLLA BLINKS CONTINUALLY. COMPUTER ANALYSIS INDICATES THE CAUSE TO BE A FAULTY AIRBAG HARNESS. CORRECTION OF THE PROBLEM REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF THE HARNESS -- A $500 EXPENSE. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP INDICATES THAT THIS IS A COMMONLY SEEN PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL YEAR. IF THE AIRBAG HARNESS FAILS, THE AIRBAG MIGHT NOT DEPLOY OR MIGHT NOT DEPLOY EFFECTIVELY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. SUCH A PROBLEM THEREFORE REPRESENTS A BROADER SAFETY ISSUE FOR ALL OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10164287

Incident

Jan 6, 2006

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON IN AUGUST OF 2004 FOR NO APPARENT REASON (CAR HAS NO HISTORY OF ACCIDENTS). TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED (IN THE STATES- WE NOW LIVE IN CANADA), AIR BAGS NOT COVERED UNDER THE PURCHASE WARRANTY. DEALER SPLIT THE COST OF REPLACING THE LEFT SIDE AIR BAG OUT OF GOOD WILL (WE PAID $418.25). LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON REPEATEDLY AFTER FIX. DEALER REPLACED COMPUTER COMPONENT, ADJUSTED HARNESS, REPEATEDLY TRIED TO FIX WIRING. IT IS NOW JUNE OF 2006 AND THE LIGHT IS STILL COMING ON- WE HAVE JUST REPLACED THE RIGHT SIDE AIR BAG (AT THE COST TO TOYOTA- WE PAID FOR LABOR), AND LIGHT IS STILL COMING ON. DEALER HAS INFORMED ME THAT AIR BAGS WILL NOT FUNCTION IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON. THIS IS CONCERNING BECAUSE WE BOUGHT THE CAR FOR THE SAFETY OF THE AIR BAGS AND WE ARE WORRIED OF BEING INJURED IN A CRASH. DEALER IS CURRENTLY IN CONTACT WITH TOYOTA REGARDING REPLACING COMPUTER COMPONENTS AGAIN. WE ARE GOING ON 2 YEARS OF HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM! AN ESTIMATED $5000 HAS BEEN PUT INTO FIXING THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING LABOR FOR OUR 14+ VISITS TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE IS CONSIDERED UNSAFE AND DEFECTIVE AND WE ARE UNABLE TO SELL IT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10160993

Incident

Aug 30, 2004

Mileage

61,132 mi

MULTIPLE AIR BAG SENSOR REPLACEMENTS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10159182

Incident

May 1, 2006

Mileage

30,000 mi

1998 TOYOTA COROLLA LE, AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND STARTS BLINKING AS SOON AS I START THE VEHICLE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON. FIRST TIME, THERE WERE AIR BAG LIGHT AND SEAT BELT LIGHT ON IN AUG 2005. I TOOK THE CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER. HE REPLACED THE SEAT BELT(COST WAS $350). THAT FIXED THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND SEAT BELT LIGHT ON PROBLEM. TODAY(SEPT 30, 2005), THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS AGAIN COME ON AND KEEP BLINKING WHILE THE ENGINE IS ON. I BELIEVE IT'S A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITH THE 1998 TOYOTA COROLLA. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE MATTER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10138323

Incident

Sep 30, 2005

Mileage

80,000 mi

THIS IS REFERENCING A PREVIOUSLY FILED COMPLAINT, #10118167. DEALER OFFERED TO MAKE A GOODWILL REPAIR AT ITS HIS COST BECAUSE THERE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE INVOLVED, WIRING HARNESS FOR AIRBAG SYSTEM. I AM PLEASANTLY SURPRISED, AND WANT TO MAKE SURE DEALER GETS CREDIT FOR DOING THIS!*AK

NHTSA ID

10118169

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUALLY FLASHING. DEALER SAYS I NEED A WIRE HARNESS REPLACEMENT. WITHOUT IT THE AIR BAGS ARE INOPERABLE. TOYOTA HAS HAD ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON 1998 TO 2000 MODEL COROLLA THAT IT ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE PROBLEM. DEALER INDICATED THAT ESSENTIALLY THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PART. DESPITE THIS, TOYOTA STATED IT WAS COVERED ONLY UNDER 3 YEARS, 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. AFTER THAT, THEY WON'T COVER IT BY WARRANTY. MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10118167

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

THE SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT A SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10113180

Incident

Feb 28, 2005

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY LIGHTS UP -- MULTIPLE SERVICE CHECKS AT DEALERSHIP AND INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OR RECOMMEND REPAIR OTHER THAN REPLACING ENTIRE AIRBAG ASSEMBLY (AT COST OF $500+). *JB

NHTSA ID

10110673

Incident

Aug 17, 2001

FLASHING AIR BAG LIGHT - I PURCHASED A 1998 TOYOTA CORLOOA IN JULY 1998. BEGINING IN SEPT OF 98 I BEGAN TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE FLASHING AIR BAG LIGHT.IT WAS TAKEN ON 9/29/98, 8/18/99, 8/15/00, 8/14/01. THE LAST VISIT THE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING BEFORE I LEFT THE PARKING LOT. I HAD TO PULL IT BACK IN THE BAY FOR THEM TO RE-FIX IT. I WAS TOLD EACH TIME I TOOK IT IN THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE FUNCTIONAL EVEN IF THE LIGHT WAS FLASHING. I TOOK THE CAR BACK LAST MONTH AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PARTS BULLETIN ISSURE BY TOYOTA BACK IN 1999 THAT REQUIRED TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS TO INSTALL A WIRE HARNESS ON THESE WIRES IN ORDER TO MAKE THEM STOP BLINKING. THIS WAS NEVER DONE ON MY CAR EVEN THOUGH ALL FOUR TIMES I TOOK IT IN IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRENTY. NOW THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $200.00 TO DO THIS.I WAS ALSO TOLD AT THIS TIME THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL WHEN THE LIGHT IS FLASHING.*AK

NHTSA ID

10060713

Incident

Sep 29, 1998

AIRBAG LIGHT WAS FLASHING. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE BODY SHOP, AND WAS TOLD THAT AIRBAGS WON'T DEPLOY IN AN IMPACT. THIS WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BEING AGITATED WHEN DRIVER'S SEAT WAS MOVED BACK AND FORTH.*AK

NHTSA ID

10057551

THIS VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 30 MPH. NONE OF THE FOUR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AN OCCUPANT OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS CHEST AND RIBS. TOYOTA WAS CONTACTED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK *NLM

NHTSA ID

872416

Incident

Aug 21, 2000

THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN TWO ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK *CB *NLM

NHTSA ID

10026881

Incident

Jun 23, 2003

Mileage

45,000 mi

'AIR BAG' LIGHT FLASHING. CODE 44 IN MEMORY (RIGHT SIDE AIR BAG CIRCUIT). INDEPENDENT SERVICE CENTER FOLLOWED FLOW CHART TEST RECOMMENDATIONS. HIGH RESISTANCE IN HARNESS BETWEEN MODULE AND RIGHT AIR BAG. HARNESS WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $529. OLD HARNESS WAS SAVED IF EVER NEEDED FOR TESTING. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10016459

Incident

Apr 3, 2003

Mileage

108,000 mi